Dry-cleaning process



being dry-cleane impregnation. The invention a the product of this protective process.

An object of my invention is to protect fabrics against disadvantageous effects commonly atany organic solvent or mixture of organic solvents cleaning fabrics such from by the usual plish the foregoing cleaning process, and can be used in conjunction cleaning processes for obtaining my suits.

in the art as t proceeds.

It is well-known that fabric ar to water-spot as with signs of wear as by teriorate, are frequen hold their press well, bec otherwise easily accumulate dirt which is difilgenated hydrocarbon solvent such as those above culthizis e v y the known yea set forth or methylene chloride, propylene chlo- 30 me ticles have been drycleaning methods they are protected against desirable effects since posited in and upon same as that of Patented Nov. 28, 1939 'nmr-ornimmo PROCESS Edmond H. Buoy, Stamford, Conn, asslgnor to Atlas Powder Company, Wilmington,. Del., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. -Application September 11, 1936,

Serial No. 100,385 3 Claims. (oi. 91-68) This invention relates to a processor drylulose. However, other water insoluble ethersof d are subjecte as textile fabrics, felt arcellulose, such as n-butyl, isobutyl, benzyl, vinyl, ticles, leather goods, etc., and more particularly crotyl, ethyl benzyl, and allyl cellulose are suitto such a process wherein the fabric articles after able. I may use mixtures of any two or more of d to a protective the foregoing ethers. The ether selected must 5 ISO comprehends be insoluble in water and soluble in the common organic solvents such as dry cleaning fluids.

As a solvent for the cellulose ether, I may use [0 tending their normal use, such as water-spotting, in which the cellulose ether is soluble to at least wear, rotting and premature deterioration, diillthe extent of my maximum proportions shown culty of pressing, failure to hold the press, acbelow. I prefer to use any usual dry-cleaning cumulating dirt, difficulty of removing dirt theresolvent such as benzol, toluol, xylol, carbon tetradry-cleaning methods, etc.

chloride, trichlorethylene, ethylene dichloride,

Another object of my invention is to accommixtures of toluol and ethyl alcohol or, in case objects by an improved drya lowered fire hazard is desired, mixtures of hento devise a process which zol, toluol or xylene with a chlorinated hydrowith the usual drycarbon such as carbon tetrachloride, trichlorethimproved reylene or ethylene dichloride. I may use any mixtures of two or more of the foregoing solvents. I

Other objects will be apparent .to those skilled may use any oxygenated solvents either alone or tly hard to ome eas he description of my invention with the foregoing solvents. Thus, I may use ketones such as acetone; alcohols such as methyl alticles in use tend cohol, ethyl alcohol, butyl alcohol; esters such as rain or other water, show methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate; alderotting, or otherwise dehydes such as benzaldehyde, etc. I may use any press or fail to hydrocarbon solvent such as gasoline, petroleum ily soiled and naphtha, ethyl benzene, and the like, or. any haloride, ethylene dibromide, etc., or other halogenat- I have discovered that if after the fabric ared acetylene, ethylene, or parafiin derivatives, or

suitable solv Cleaned y t e usual y-. halogenated aromatic derivatives such as chloriare dipped into a dilute nated benzene or toluene. While the cellulose ethsolutio c s s i es entially of a water-insoluers are insoluble in gasoline or petroleum naphtha ble cellulose ether in a that the articles upon evaporation of the solvent in combination wit th l t the disadvantageous efiects which normally attend use of the untreated vary in accordance withv the conditions of treattieles to which I have referred above These ment and with the amount of solid deposit desired 40 vanta eous resu ts ar b a Without any in the treated article. The proportion may be the q y of solids greater where the article, while still wet with the fibers and threads of dry-cleaning solvents, is subjected to the solution articles treated by my process is so small that of cellulose ether, because of the diluting'effect of the pp hand he fe l o t e ouch) the solvents. However, this proportion is preferand flexibility are not affected in the least. The ably maintained between oz, and 1 pound of stiffness of the treated articles is substantially 11 1 th per gallon of so1vent The greater the u t eat articles- The the proportion, the greater will be the amount of treated articles are not water-resistant nor even it, as ill b at nce understood by those water-repellant, yet they do exhibit a high rekilled in the art.

sistance to water-spotting. In the treated articles, substantially no c the threads, virtually a themselves.

The proportion of cellulose ether to solvent will To alter the appearance of characteristics of ellulose ether is between the treated material, I may add small amounts 11 being in the threads of solvent plasticizers such as dibutyl phthalate,

or of non-solvent softeners such as blown castor As the cellulose ether I prefer to use ethyl celoil to the treating solution. The selection of and proportion of this added ingredient will vary according to the properties desired in the product. Usually-the percentage will be between 1 and 20%, based on the weight of the total non-volatile content of the solution. if desired, also add and amount of the addition material should be such that the effect of the cellulose ether will predominate.

In carrying out my process, I first dry clean the article in the usual way known to the art.

The article may or may not have been protected' by a prior application of my treating material. I may dry clean by washing the article in the usual dry cleaning solvents such as benbol, carbon tetrachloride, trichlorethylene. Then I dip the article in the treating solution above described, allow the solvents to in the usual way. Dirt will have but little adherence to articles cleaned and protected in this manner, and the dirt which does adhere will be very easily removed in the next dry-cleaning since the cellulose ether is soluble in dry cleaning solvents and will carry the adhered dirt directly into the solvents. In conjunction with this next dry-cleaning I may employ my treating process, thus renewing the protective means. A non-limiting, specific example of a suitable treating solution for use'in carrying out my invention is:

Ethyl cellulose Oz. by wt 2 Ethylene dichloride (CH2C1CH2C1) Gallon 1 By the term fabrics as used in the spe'cification and claims, I intend to include the fibrous bases above referred to such as textile fabrics as mens suits, ladies dresses, upholstery, drapes, curtains, silk, felts as felt hats, leather articles such as gloves, pocketbooks and the like.

While the increase in weight of fabrics treated by my process is variable due to the great differences in cloth in weave and in condition of the fibers, the increase is very slight varying from a low limit of 4 of a gram per square foot to as high as four or five grams per square foot.

I may use a heated solution of. the cellulose ether, and I may employ heat and/or forced draft to accelerate the drying of the saturated fabrics. other modifications which are within the spirit of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and I desire that my invention be limited only by the language of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The process of cleaning and renovating a fabric having an impregnation of a water-insoluble cellulose ether to protect it against waterspotting and adherence of dirt without substantially altering the flexibility, feel, and appearance evaporate and press and without appreciably increasing the stiifness of the fabric, which comprises dry-cleaning the fabric by subjecting it to the action imbedded dirt, then immersing the fabric in a dilute solution of ethyl cellulose in a volatile organic solvent therefor, said solution containing between one half ounce and one pound of ethyl cellulose per gallon of protected against water-spotting and adherence of dirt, while its fiexibility,'fee l, and appearance are not substantially altered and its stiffness is not appreciably increased.

- EDMOND H. BUCY. 

